Plate-holder.



T. B'UGHER. PLATE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1914.

1,128,286. Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

I HE NORRIS PETERS 00.1 PHOTO-LITHOH WASHINGIUN 1 'rnonon'o BUGI-IER, 0F PEGLI. ITALY.

PLATE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb.- 16, 1915.

Application filed. March 4. 1914. Serial No. 822,411.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TEODORO BUSH-ER, a citizen of the Swiss Confederation, reslding at Pegli, Italy, have invented a new and useful Improved Plate-Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to plate holders primarily intended for holding the plates 1n water either for the purpose of washlng them or heating them.

According to the present invention the holder consists of a pair of circular or segmental spring tongs provided with a plurality of grooved brackets adapted to receive the ed e of the plate to be held in the tongs.

Preferably the tongs are so constructed that their normal diameter may be adjusted to enable the holder to be used for plates of different sizes.

The accompanying drawings show how the said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.

In these drawings :Figure 1 is a front view of the improved plate holder. showing the tongs open. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the tongs closed. Fig. 3 is a section on the line XX of Fig. 2. Fig. f is a plan. Fig. 5 is a partial View illustrating a modification, and Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate details.

The tongs are conveniently formed from two segmental members A and B, which overlap at one end, the overlapping portions being slotted to receive a bolt C provided with a Winged nut C. It will be seen that by loosening this nut C the segmental members A and-B may be adjusted to vary the diameter of the tongs. The segmental. members A and B-are provided with grooved brackets D having extensions D to support the plate while the tongs are being closed to grip the same. The ends of said members A and B are bent at A, B to form arms or handles E, and F, and the arm E is provided with a bar G which projects through an opening and is notched at G to receive a projection H carried on a spring J in the arm F.

The operation of the holder is as. follows :The normal diameter of the tongs is first adjusted by means of the adjusting bolt C to suit the size of plate to be gripped and then after the plate has been placed on the extensions of the brackets D the tongs are closed and retained in such position by means of the spring J as will be readily understood. The holder can then be placed in water for the purpose of washing or heating the plate without wetting the hands or it maybe waved about in the air for drying purposes. To remove the plate it is only necessary to release the spring J and allow the tongs to open when the plate may be lifted from the extensions D'of the brackets D. In cases where it is desired to stand the plate on its edge on a draining board after Washing, the plate may be released fromithe holder without releasing the spring J by placing one side ofjthe holder on the drying board and then applying pressure to the other-side. It will be seen that this pressure will for the time being slightly increase the length of the tongs, and owing to the posi tion of the brackets the plate will be released therefrom.

Preferably a suitably shaped guide K is provided for conducting the lower edge of the plate onto the draining board. This guide K is carried by pins M which extend through apertures in the member A and are connected at their other ends by means of a plate N. A flat spring 0 is furnished which holds the guide K normally against the member A, but when the holder is placed on the drainingboard and the plate released as described above the guide K is pressed upwardly to receive the edge of the plate and conduct the latter on to the board.

In some cases a support P may be provided (see Figs. 1 and 5) having its ends secured to the tongs in such a manner that when the latter are open the support is drawn inwardly to receive the plate and when'the tongs are closed to grip the plate the support is pressed back clear of the latter and therefore does not in any way interfere with the washing of the plate. With this construction the extensions D of the brackets D nearest the handles may be dispensed with. Preferably one end of the guide P is secured in place by means of a clamp P provided with a winged nut in order that the length of the guide may be adjusted. In a modified form of adjusting means (see Fig. 5) the guide is composed of two portions which overlap each other, the overlapping portions being slotted to receive a bolt P provided with a Winged nut P If desired the tongs may be held normally open by means of a spring Q carried by a rod Q secured to the arm F and projecting through an aperture in the arm E. The rod may be screw threaded to receive a millednut It so that the force exerted by the spring can be readily adjusted.

The outer surface of the members A and B may be graduated so that for a given diameter of plate the tongs may be adjusted before the plate is inserted.

A further range of adjustments may be obtained by so constructing one of the brackets D that it may be readily removed and replaced by another one of different length.

I In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 an additional bracket S is adapted to be secured to the bracket D in the following manner: The bracket S has a plate S which is shaped to fit into the forked end of the bracket 1). The bracket S also carries a notched bar T which is adapted to pass through an aperture in the bracket D and receive the hooked end of an arm U pivotally mounted on the plate S. The arm U is provided with a right angled extension U which when the arm U is in position bears against the side of the bracket D and assists in holding the additional bracket S securely in position.

I claim 1. In a plate holder the combination with a pair of circular or segmental spring tongs of a plurality of grooved brackets mounted on the tongs for the purpose set forth.

2. In a plate holder the combination of a pair of circular or segmental spring tongs, a plurality of grooved brackets mounted on the tongs and means whereby the normal diameter of the tongs can be adjusted for the purpose set forth.

3. In a plate holder the combination of a pair of circular or segmental spring tongs, a

plurality of grooved brackets mounted on the tongs and a spring controlled catch for holding the tongs closed for the purpose set forth.

4. In a plate holder the combination of a pair of circular or segmental spring tongs, a plurality of grooved brackets adapted to receive a plate and so situated that when pressure is applied to the sides of the tongs they release the plate, and a spring controlled guide for conducting the edge of the plate clear of the holder substantially as set forth.

5. In a plate holder the combination of a pair of circular or segmental spring tongs, a plurality of grooved brackets mounted on the tongs, means whereby the normal diameter of the tongs can be adjusted and a spring controlled catch for holding the tongs closed substantially as set forth.

6. In a plate holder the combination of a pair of circular or segmental spring tongs, a plurality of grooved brackets mounted on the tongs, and a support carried by the tongs in such a manner that when the latter are open the support is drawn inwardly and when the tongs are closed the support is pressed back flush with the tongs for the purpose set forth.

7. In a plate holder the combination of a pair of circular or segmental spring tongs, a plurality of grooved brackets mounted on the tongs, an adjustable spring for holding the tongs normally open and a spring catch for retaining the tongs in the closed position substantially as set forth.

TEonono BUCHER.

Witnesses RAY MAiNiiR, RAY FELINGKEROF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

